ASTON Villa footballer Moustapha Salifou has emerged unhurt after the team bus carrying him and his Togo teammates was attacked by men with machine guns on the way to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Villa confirmed last night that the 26-year-old midfielder had escaped unhurt from the attack and had spoken to his brother Eddie back home in Togo.

Video footage emerged today of the Togo team leaving hospital. Salifou is clearly visible in the background looking stunned and shaken.

A Togolese official said the bus driver has been killed and four people had been injured, including the assistant manager, physio, goalkeeping coach and another coach.

All of the players were taken to hospital to be checked over. Saifou said: “I am okay but extremely shocked and very upset.”

The incident occurred in the Angolan territory of Cabinda after the bus crossed from the Republic of Congo.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill said: “I am really shocked to hear about this. Obviously I am pleased and relieved to hear that Moustapha is okay and that he is not among the injured people.

“The club have been in contact with him and he has reassured us that he is okay but he is extremely shocked and upset, which he would be in these circumstances.

"Physically he's fine, he's unhurt, but obviously very upset."

Manchester City have confirmed that £25 million star striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Togo’s captain, was also unhurt in the attack.

The Manchester City striker, who revealed the attack en route to the team's base in the Cabinda province lasted 30 minutes, was convening a team meeting as captain last night at which the squad were set to discuss whether they stay in Angola or return to their clubs.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "I think a lot of players want to leave, I don't think they want to be at this tournament any more because they have seen their death already.

"Most of the players want to go back to their family. No-one can sleep after what they have seen. They have seen one of their team-mates have a bullet in his body, who is crying, who is losing consciousness and everything.

"Everyone will go to their room, they will rest and we will see.

"We will make a decision which is good for our life.

Adebayor added: "We are still in shock. If the security is not sure then we will be leaving. I don't think they will be ready to give their life.

"We will discuss everything as a team and we will take a decision that we think is good for our career, is good for our life and good for our family."

Serge Akakpo and Kodjovi Obilale were confirmed by their clubs as the players injured in the attack.

Togo’s first game is due to be played on Monday in Cabinda where rebels have been fighting for independence.

Unknown assailants reportedly opened fire on the coach.

Striker Thomas Dossevi, who plays for French team Nantes, told a French radio station that “several players were in a bad state.”

He said the team was “shot at like dogs” by hooded gunmen, who were “armed to the teeth.”

He added: “We had just crossed the border from Congo into Cabinda. We had filled in the border formalities and were surrounded by police. Then there was a powerful burst of gunfire.

“Everyone dived under the seats and the police fired back.

“It felt like war had broken out.”

Midfielder Alaixys Romao admits the players feared the worst and thinks Togo are now likely to pull out of the tournament.

The Grenoble player said: “We’re not thinking yet of what could happen.”

“But it’s true that no-one wants to play.

“We’re not capable of it.

“We’re thinking first of all about the health of our injured because there was a lot of blood on the ground.

“In cases like these we’re thinking of those near us, of those we love because that really could have been the end of us.”